Dinner Diary: December 21, 2015 – December 27, 2015

This week has been heavenly. Getting back to our home (which is really our second home) meant I was back in the land of my kitchen and familiar spaces. We got in late Monday night from our time in Florida with Jon’s mom and first thing the following morning, I was off to the market to stock up the kitchen.

Even though we headed up the coast to spend the weekend with Jon’s family for the holiday, I spent the three days at the cabin cooking and baking which was a restorative meditation in so many ways.

Christmas had Jon and I driving the two hours to my mom’s house to hang out with her and my brother for Christmas morning and afternoon. Then from there we headed out into a 6 hour drive towards Santa Cruz for a 3 day weekend with the Brown/Houlihan gang.

Together with family we must have eaten at least 6 meals together. A big long table, conversations happening in all directions, the food was wonderful and I found myself once more in this state of gratitude. It’s both given me deep nourishing pleasure and a renewed awareness of this ache I have for creating more opportunities to bring dear friends together over good food.

Jon and I, as well as my sister friends over at WAW have spent a good portion of this week talking about the desire to create traditions with chosen family that bring us together more often. This coming year, I’m adding a few more holidays to our roster and celebrating the turning of the seasons which have always been more meaningful to me than other holidays of the year, save for Thanksgiving.

More on this in the coming months, but Spring Equinox will be the first.

December 21, 2015 – Driving to Idyllwild from LAX Airport. We didn’t get home until quite late and grabbed a couple of tacos at Taco Bell.December 22, 2015 – Cabin in Idyllwild – Jasmine Rice, Indian curry dal, and raitaDecember 23, 2015 – Cabin in Idyllwild – Baked potato with a sautéed brussel sprouts with cranberries and a dash of balsamic vinegarDecember 24, 2015 – Idyllwild – Went to a movie, ate left over rice and dalDecember 25, 2015 – Car picnic for the ride up to Santa Cruz, ham and cheese sandwich for me, tofurky and cheese sandwich for JonDecember 26, 2015 – Santa Cruz, Ca at Steve and Marlene’s (Jon’s Uncle and Aunt) – lamb with mint sauce, sweet potatoes, asparagus and saladDecember 27, 2015 – Billy’s Boston Chowder House in Los Gatos, Ca with family – Gluten free battered and fried sea food! I have no words for the joy!